Assigkntob



C. W. HARROLD.

SHEET FEEDER. APPLICATION FILED ma. 21,1916.

laluntwl Aug. 12, liHJ.

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SHEET FEEDER.

APPLICATION HLED FEB-21.19MB.

1 ,3 1 2,5 39 9 Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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[lull C. W. HARROLD.

SHEET FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21.1916.

Patented Aug. 12, 191%).

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o W WAG C. W2 HARROLD.

SHEET FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21.1916.

1,3 1 2,539" v Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

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SHEET FEEDER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1916.

lamnted Aug. 12, 191 H.

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UNITD STATES CHARLES W. HARROLD, 0F WARREN, OHIO, ASSIG-NOR TO TI EIE i PRESS COMPANY, OF NILES, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF @Flltl.

:1 IS AUTOMATIC 0E0.

SHEET-FEEDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed February 21, 1916. Serial No. 79,631.

device is combined with certain novel ad juncts to produce the requisite action to separate and feed forward the indivldual sheets.

The objects .of my invention are, among other things, to provide mechanism whereby the individual sheets may be separated and fed from a pile rapidly and with great precision without any break or intermission in the forward succession of sheets, and without disturbing or disarranging the balance of the pile;'also to provide means for intermittently releasing the pressure of the pile against the sheet which is about to be separated and fed forward. A further object is to provide a sheet-feeder of this general character of simple and efficient construction and operation, with parts that are durable and not apt to get out of order.

My improved construction also presents other features of novelty and usefulness whereby the sl1eet-feeding mechanism is constructed and operated so as to give satisfactory and reliable results, all of which will be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and serve, in connection with the description herein, to fully explain the principles of my invention and the best-mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles in actual practice.

Figure 1 is a side elevation view improved sheet-feeder;

Fig. 2 is an end view, looking from the left in Fig. 1, the pile of sheets being omitted;

F ig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line in Fig. 1;

F ig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View of the tubular sucker shaft;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of one of the of my suckers taken on the line 55 shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of one of the suckers about to separate a sheet from the pile; v

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that shown in Fig' 6, the sucker separating and withdrawing the outer sheet from the pile;

Fig. 8 is another view similar to Figs. 6 and 7, the separated sheet being engaged by upper pull-out roll;

ig. 9 is a sectional plan view illustrating the pile in a buckled condition, the section being taken on the line 9-9 shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view illustrating the middle pile support finger released and drawn backward, the section being taken on the line 1010 shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a side View of one form of valve for controlling the vacuum in the suckers;

Fig. 12 is .an end view of the valve shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a sectional diagrammatic view illustrating another alternate arrangement of the suckers.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, 17 designates the end parts or standards of the frame, composed of alhy suitable material, and formed in any desired shape to accommodate the structural parts of my sheetfeeder. These standards 17 may be properly connected 'by cross-bars or other ties to provide a sufliciently strong and rigid structure. A. main driving shaft 18 is suitably journaled in the standards 17 and secured thereto is a driving pulley (not shown) for receiving power to drive the feeder. secured to the shaft 18 is'the driving gear 19 enmeshed with thegear 20 secured to the shaft 21, to which is afiixcd the lower pull-out Ailixed to the frame 17, as shown in Fig. 3, is the feed-table 26 having journaled therein the forwarding rollers 27 and 28, or any other suitable devices to carry forward the individual sheets to a printing-press or other machine. This feed-table 26 is so arranged as to lie in proximity to the plane of unetion between the upper and lower pull-out rolls 22 and 25, as shown in Fig. 1. This feed-table 26, with forwarding devices adapted to carry the individual sheets forwardly to a printing-press or like machine, is well-known and common in this art, and constitutes, in itself, no part of my present invention.

Mounted on the shaft 2 1 is the gear 29 which engages with the gear 30 secured to -the shaft 31. The size of the gears 29 and 30 is such that the shaft 21 will make substantially three revolutions While the shaft- 31 makes a single revolution. Mounted on the endof the shaft 31 is the disk 32, which carries the pin 33, upon which is pivoted the piston rod 34 projecting from the cylinder 35 affixed to the lower part of the frame 17, as shown in Fig. 1. The cylinder 35, with the piston therein may be of any suitable construction to produce a vacuum of sufficient degree to operate the suckers, which will be hereinafter described.

36 indicates the stack or pile of superimposed sheets of paper or other material which are to be separated one by one and withdrawn and fed forward from my feeder. Preferably the pile of sheets 36 is arranged with their edges in alinement and resting on edge in a slightly inclined position in a suitable rack or hopper formed in the frame 17, as shown in Fig. 1. It .must be understood that my feeder will operate equally as well when the pile 36 is arranged vertically or at an intermediate angle; the inclination shown in Fig. 1 I have found very desirable in separating and feeding the sheets. As shown in this figure, the upper margins of the pile 36 rest against the transverse plate 37 adjustably secured to the cross-bar 38 mounted in the frame 17 by the set-screw 39. Secured at right angles to the plate 37 is the guide-plate 40 adapted to engage the upper edges of the pile, as shown in Fig." 1. The lower edges of the pile 36 rest upon the arms 41 (one of which is shown in Fig. 1), adjustably secured in the frame 17 upon the bar 42. The lateral edges of the pile 36 are engaged by a series of projecting arms 43, 44, 45 and 46, the lower arms 43 and 44 (Fig. 2) being mounted on the cross-bar 42, while the upper arms 45 and 46 are mounted upon studs adjustably secured in the frame 17 by set-screws 48 and 49 respectively. The lower part of the pile 36 rests upon a series of pile supports 50, 51 and 52, all pivotally mounted on the cross-bar 47 (Fig. 2). and depending from, and mounted on, the crossbar 38, are two brackets 53 and 54, having secured to their ends the spring separator blades 55 and 56 respectively, the ends of which project slightly outside the pile 36 lar shaft 60. The construction of these suckers is shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, and consists of a hollow lL-sha-ped arm 61 mounted at right angles to the tubular shaft with its hollow bore 62 engaging with the port 63 in the shaft 60, as shown in Fig.4; the outer end of the arm 61 is screw-threaded at 64, and secured thereto is the bracket 65 carrying the flaring, conically-shaped lips 66, composed of rubber or other suitable material, to engage the surface of the outermost sheet. Secured to the end of the arm 61 is the transverse plate 67, the outer end of which lies in the same plane as the contacting edge of the rubber lips 66. This plate 67 presses against the surface of the pile 36, and enables the lips 66 to secure a firm hold upon the outermost sheet, and it also protects the more or less delicate rubber lips from injury.

Secured to one end of the tubular shaft 60 is the pipe 68 which leads to the sucker control valve ingehanism shown in detail in Figs. 11 and 12. Any suitable form of valve mechanism may be used so as to regulate the proper action ofthe suckers. The device I have shown is constructed as follows: Mounted on the frame 17 is thecylindrieal valve box 69 connected to the shaft 60 by the pipe 68 through the port 70; the pipe 71 connects the box 69 through the port 72, with the vacuum cylinder 35, as shown in Fig. 3. Journaled upon the box 69 is the oscillating valve 73 having cut therein a segmental opening 74 arranged to connect, in one position, the ports 70 and 72, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, thereby creating a vacuum within the rubber lips 66, and in another position to connect the port 70 with the vent 75, which causes the suckers 58 and 59 to release their hold on the sheet. The oscillating movement of the valve 73 is secured and controlled by the cam 76 mounted on the shaft 31, the cam 76 engaging with a cam-roller 77 pivoted to the arm 78 secured to the valve 73, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. The coil spring 79 holds the cam-roller 77 always in contact with the ram 76, and Fig. 11 shows that when the roller 77 contacts with the high part of the cam 76, the-suckers 5S and and is pivotalliy 59 are in direct communication with the vac- L uum cylinder 35, through the shaft. 60, pipe '68 port, 70, opening 74, port 72, and pipe 71.

The two suckers 58 and 59 are preferably mounted on the shaft 60 slightly beyond the vertical planes of the two outer pull-out rolls, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to engage the outermost sheet of the ile 36 near the upper corners thereof, as sl own in Fig. 6. The tubular shaft 60 carrying the suckers 58 and 59, extends tranversely across the feeder, mounted upon the links 80 and 81 secure to the studs .82 and 83 respectively, in the frame 17, as shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on the tubular shaft 60 is the cam-roller 84: which is engaged by a suitably-shaped cam 85 mounted on the shaft 31, as shown in F igs. 6, 7 and 8. The rotation of this cam 85 in the direction shown by the arrow causes the suckers 58 and 59 to 'be successively lifted and lowered, as shown in these figures, to separate and bend down the upper portion of the outermost sheet to be engaged by the pull-out rolls 22 and 25,to be thereafter withdrawn from the pile and fed forwardly to the feed-table 26. The

orbit through which the tubular shaft 60 passes in its upward and downward path is shown in F i 1 by the circular slot 86; the coil-spring 8 connecting the link 81. to the frame 17 always holds the cam-roller 84 in contact with the sucker-operating cam 85.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the upper pull-out rolls 25- are so constructed as to have within their peripheries curved cut-out portions or openings 88, which are adapted to contain, within themselves, the upper edge portion of the outermost sheet 89, after it has been pulled back and separated from the pile 36, as shown in Fig. 7 The continued rotation of the pullout rolls 25 bends the upper. portion of the sheet through the peripheral hook-ends 90 of the roll 25, as shown in Fig. 8, the hookends 90 first engaging the sheet 89, as shown in dotted lines, and then bending and carrying the sheet downwardly so that its upper margin is engaged between the hook-ends 90 of the upper pull-out rolls 25 and the periphery of the lower pull-out rolls 22, as shown in full lines in 8. The suckers 58 and 59 release the sheet 89 as soon asthe hookend 90 engages the upper portion of the sheet.

Referring to Figs. 9'and 10, I prefer-to hold the lower half of the pile 36 in a slightly curved or buckled position by having the middle pile support 51 held slightly advanced from the transverse plane of the other pile-supports 50 and 52, as shown in Fig. 9. lower portion of the outermost sheet from the pile more easily than if the dead weight of the pile 36 bore against the sheet which is being withdrawn. To the upper end of This enables me to withdraw the the pile-support 51 is secured the bracket coils pring 94, connecting the pile-support 51 with the frame 17 always holds the cam-' roller 92 in contact with the cam 93. As shown in Fig. 8, just as the sheet 89 is engaged by the pull-out rollers'22 and 25, the pile-support 51 falls away from the pile 36 by the roller 92 entering the drop in the cam 93, the suckers 58 and 59 being in their lowered position, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10. This backward movement of the pile-sup port 51, as shown in Fig.- 10, suddenly relieves the weight or pressure of the pile 36 against the lower portion of the outermost sheet 89, thereby enabling the pull-out rolls to readily disengage, through diminished friction, this sheet 89 from the next sheet in the pile, without tearing and, furthermore, without disturbing or distorting the balance of the pile, such dropping away of the pile supports taking place simultaneously with the bite of the pull-out rolls, enabling me to take advantage of the inertia of the pile in extracting the lower portion of the outermost sheet. The retraction of the pile-support 51 is so abrupt and rapid that the momentary relieving of the pressure of the pile itself prevents the inherent weight of i the associated sheets constituting the balance of the pile from immediately or closely following the retracted pile-support 51 when the roller 92 enters the drop of the cam 93 as shown in Fig. 8; it is during this instant of relieved pressure, or inherent weight, that the outermost sheet 89 theretofore seized bythe suckers 58 and 59 begins to withdraw from the pile 36. The inherent weight of the pile on the pile-support 51 may have returned to normal before the sheet is fully withdrawn, yet the quick retraction of this support has served its purpose in relieving the inherent weight of the pile itself at the very instant of the starting of the outermost sheet 89 so that this detached sheet is. under headway, and its bearing surface with attending friction is constantly and rapidly being reduced in area as the sheet is withdrawn from the pile. In lieu of the three pile-supports 50, 51 and 52, it may employ a curved plate projecting conveXly into the body of the pile, the purpose in each case being to stiffen the sheets in the pile 36 as Well as to reduce the friction surface as much as possible. However, my preferred construction is to give a slight reciprocating movement to the pile-support 51, as hereinbefore shown and described.

Referring to the alternate construction shown in Fig. 13, I have here illustrated a variation in the location and shape of the s11cl e1's,an(l in their mode of operation. The sucker 59 (only one being shown) i till mounted in the tubular shaft which is journaled in the frame 17 and has only an oscillating movement in the frame. The hollow arm 1 12 carrying the sucker 59 is U-' the shaft 31 passes in the reciprocating movement in the link. In the construction shown the sucker 59 is pressed against the pile- 36 through the cam-roller 115 riding along the high part of the cam 116; the roller 115 is about to descend, which will rock the shaft 60 through the link 11 1 and arm 118 in a contra-clockwise direction, which will cause the sucker 59 toswing away from .the pile, as shown in dotted lines, and carry the outer most sheet within the bite of the pull-out rolls 22 and 25.

lt is obvious that the pivot point of the suckers is capable of various locations, the essential requirement being that the suckers be arranged and located on the feeder so that they pull oh the outer sheet and bend same sufiiciently to cause it to enter between the pull-out rolls, and then pass out of the forward path of the sheet which is being fed forward.

The operation of my sheet-feeder is substantially as follows: The stack or pile of sheets or blanks 36 is placed within the rack or hopper formed as hereinbefore described, with the pile-support 51, or the curved plate to be used in lieu of the pilesupport, causin the pile of sheets to slightly buckle forwar y, as shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 9. The respective cams 76, and 93, having the shapes as illustrated in the figures, are mounted and secured to the camshaft 31, as to first cause the suckers to be lifted in contact with the outermost sheet of the pile, as shown in Fig. 6. The two suckers 58 and 59 are preferably arranged on their hollow shaft 60, so as to engage the upper corners of the pile 86, so as to first disengage the extreme corners of the sheet and admit air between the outermost sheet and the second sheet, so as to prevent the second sheet from following the first. The suction control valve 73 is opened by the cam 76, thereby connecting the two suckers withthe vacuum cylinder 35, the parts constitutin the valve mechanism being sub stantial y in the position as shown in Figs. 11 and 12. As soon as the suckers 58 and 59 have fastened themselves to the outermost sheet, they are quiclrly swung away or withdrawn from the plane of the pile of the sheets, carrying with them this separated sheet 89 so that its edges have snapped by the plate 37 and the spring fingers 55 and 56; meanwhile the upperpull-out rolls are rotated contra-clockwise so that the upper margin of the sheet 89 passes within the cutout openings 88 in the rolls 25, all as shown in Fig. 7. As soon as the hook-ends of taneously connecting the latter with the at- 1 mosphere through the vent 75. This causes the suckers 58 and 59 to release their hold on the sheet 89, and the suckers are rapidly lowered out of the path of the bentover sheet through the cam-roller 8 1 riding down the sharp drop of the cam 85, as shown in Fig. 8. As the sheet 89 is bent. over within the cut-outopenings 88 in the upper pull-out rolls 25, the upper margin of the sheet is caught in the bite between the hookends 90 and the periphery of the lower pullout rolls 22, and simultaneously therewith the cam-roller 92 rides ofi the high part of cam 93, as shown in Fig. 8, which causes the retraction of the pile-support 51 through the force of the coil-spring 94, which momentarily straightens the pile 36, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, from the buckled position shown in Figs. 6 and 9, thereby enabling the outermost sheet 89, now caught between the rolls 22 and 25, to be rapidly drawn out over the roller 57, free from the weight or pressure of the remainder of the pile, and without disturbing the position of the next sheet in the pile. The sheet 89 is then passed forwardly to the feed-table 26 to be advanced to the printing-press or other like machine. Inasmuch as the pull-out rolls 22 and 25 make 3 three revolutions while the cam-shaft 31 makes a single revolution, t will be obvious that separation and feeding forward of the sheet proceeds while the suckers are rising to perform their initial.

function in pulling out the upper portion of the next sheet in the second cycle of movement. The peripheral length of the 'pull-out rolls, with their triple revolutions for each cycle of operations, is amply sufficient to deliver the sheet from the pile and advance same to the feeding-0d rollers or other devices on the feed-table proper.

My improved sheet-feeder, therefore, combines first the action of the suckers in preliminarily separating and drawing down the upper edge or margin of the separated sheet within the path of the cut-out openings in the upper pull-out rolls; then the sucker action is terminated, and the upper portion of thesheet isfurtherbent down by the up per pull-out roll intothe opening between the two sets of pull-out rolls formed by the cut-out openings a d the peripheries of the lllti 7 neaaeee lower rolls, and thereafter the sheet is grasped slightly back of its front edge when withdrawal from the pile proper begins;

simultaneously with such withdrawal the pressure of the pile against the sheet is momentarily released just as the sheet starts to feed, which release of the pile has distinct advantages in securing the proper separation and advancement of the individual sheets.

I claim as .my invention 1. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets standing on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile by bending the sheet edge at the beginning of the separation, means for engaging the detached end and drawin and means for re ieving the inherent wei ht of the pile upon the detached sheet durlng its withdrawal from the pile.

2. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

3. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a {pile of sheets standing on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile by bending the sheet edge at the beginning of the separation, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

4. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for re lieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

5. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets standing on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile by bending the sheet edge at the beginning of the separation, means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

6. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means 'for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simulthe sheet from the pile,

sheet during its withdrawal from 'taneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its Withdrawal from the pile.

7. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets standing on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile by bending the sheet edge at the beginning of the separation, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent Weight of the ile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

8. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support-for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

9.. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets standing on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer'sheet from the pile by bending the sheet edge at the beginning of the separation, means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and

means for momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached the pile.

10. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a. pile of sheets a on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for mementarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal fromthe pile.

11. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets standing on edge, of means for detaching one end or" the outer sheet from the pile by bending the sheet edge at the beginning of the sepa: ration, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

12. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means "for detaching one end of the outer sheet from, the pile, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for mo- .mentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile'upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

13. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet ESQ from the pile, means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

14:. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

15. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for detaching one end or the outer sheet from the pile, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight or the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

16. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, rotary means for engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

17. in a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile oi sheets, of means for successively detaching and withdrawing the undermost sheet, and means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

18. in a sheet-teeder, the comblnation with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for successively detaching and withdrawing the undermost sheet, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

19. lln a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for successively detaching and withdrawing the underrnost sheet, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

20. ln a sheet-feeder, the combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means ior successively detaching and withdrawing the undermost sheet, and means for relievin the inherent weight of the pile upon the etached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

2l. in a sheet-"feeder, the. combination with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, oi means for successively detachneiaaao ing and withdrawing the undermost sheet, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

22. lln a sheet-feeder, the combination .with an inclined support for a pile of sheets on edge, of means for successively detaching and withdrawing the undermost sheet, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from .the pile.

23. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion extending across the entire periphery of'said roll for directly engaging the detached end from said detaching means, a cooperating rotatable pull-out roll to contact with the periphery of the first-mentioned pull-out roll, means for rotating the rolls to withdraw the detached sheet from the pile, and means for relievin the inherent weight of the pile upon the etaehed sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

24:. lln a sheetfe'eder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for detaching. one end oi the outer sheet from the pile, means comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion extending across the entire periphery of said roll for directly engaging the detached end from said detaching means, a cooperating rotatable pull-out roll to contact with the periphery of the first-mentioned pull-out roll, means for rotating the rolls to withdraw the detached sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

25. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion extending across the entire periphery of said roll for directly engaging the detached end from said detaching means, a cooperating rotatable pull-out roll to contact with the periphery of the first-mentioned pull-out roll, means for rotating the rolls to withdraw the detached sheet from the pile, and means for momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

26. lln a sheet-fiee'der, the combination with a support for a pile oi sheets. or means for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion extending across the entire periphery of said roll for directly engaging the detached end lltlll from said detaching means, a coiiperating rotatable pull-out roll to contact with the periphery of the first-mentioned pull-out roll, means for rotating the rolls to withdraw the detached sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

27. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means comprising a pneumatic sucker for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion across its entire periphery for directly engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, means for opening said valve when said last-mentioned means has engaged the detached end of the sheet, and means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

28. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means comprising a pneumatic sucker for, detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means comprising a potat'able pull-out roll having a cut-out po tion across its entire periphery for directly engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, means for opening said valve when said last-mentioned means has engaged the detached end of the sheet, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during'its withdrawal from the pile.

29. In ,a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of means comprising a pneumatic sucker for detach.- ing one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion across its entire periphery for directly engaging the detached end and drawing the sheet from the pile, means for opening said valve when said last-mentioned means has engaged the detached end of the sheet, and means for momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

30. Ina sheet-feeder, the combination with I a support for a pile of sheets, of means comprising a pneumatic sucker for detaching one end of the outer sheet from the pile, means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means, comprising a rotatable pull-out roll having a cut-out portion across its entire periphery for directly engaging the detached end and drawing the'sheet from the pile, means for opening said valve When said last-mentioned means has engaged the detached end of the sheet, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

31. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatable pull-out rolls, one of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its periphery to make and close an opening between the rolls, means to detach one end of the outer sheet from the pile and bend same directly into said cut-out portion,

means for rotating said ull-out.rolls to draw the sheet from the pi e, and means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

32. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatable pull-out rolls, one of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its periphery to make and close an opening between the rolls, means to detach one end of the outer sheet from the pile and bend same directly into said cut-out portion, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

33. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatablepull-out rolls, one of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its periphery to make and close an opening between the rolls, means to detach one end of the outer sheet from the pile and bend same direcely into said cut-out portion, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

34:. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatable pull -out rolls, one of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its perip cry to make and close an opening between the rolls, means to detach one end of the outer sheet from the pile and bend same directly into said cut-out portion, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent .for moving said sucker toward and from the pile to detach one end of the outer sheet and bend same directly into said cut-out portion, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means for opening said valve when said cut-out portion has engaged said detached sheet end, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

36. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a sup-port for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatable pull-out rolls, one of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its periphery to make and close an opening between the rolls, a pneumatic sucker, means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile to detach one end of the outer sheet and bend same directly into said cut-out portion, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for reieving said vacuum, means for opening said valve when said: cut-out portion has engaged said detached sheet end, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile 37. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a sup ort for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatab e pull-out rolls, one of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its periphery to make and close an opening between the rolls, 'a pneumatic sucker, means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile to detach one end of the outer sheet and bend same directly into said cut-out portion, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means for opening said valve when said cut-out portion has engaged said detached sheet end, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

38. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with a support for a pile of sheets, of a pair of rotatable pull-out rolls, one' of said rolls having a cut-out portion extending across its periphery to make and close an opening between the rolls, a pneumatic sucker, means for moving said sucker toward and from the pile to detach one end of the outer sheet and bend same directly into said cut-out portion, an air-exhausting means to produce a partial vacuum in the sucker, a valve for relieving said vacuum, means for opening said valve when said cutout portion has engaged said detached sheet end, means for rotating said pull-out rolls to draw the sheet from the pile, and means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent Weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

39. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets standing on edge and means tor detaching the outer sheet by preliminarily bending the sheet edgefrom the pile, of means for relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

40. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets standing on ed e and means for detaching the outer sheet y preliminarily bending the sheet edge from the pile, of meansfor simultaneously relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

ll. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with aneans for supporting a ile of sheets standing on edge and means or detaching the outer sheet by preliminarily bending the sheet edge from the ile of means for momentarily relieving t e inherent weight of the pile upon the detached sheet during its withdrawal from the pile.

42. In a sheet-feeder, the combination with means for supporting a ile of sheets standing on edge and means or detaching the outer sheet by preliminarily bending the sheet edge from the pile, of means for simultaneously and momentarily relieving the inherent weight of the pile upon the detaphed sheet during its withdrawal from the p1 e.

CHARLES W. HARRULD.

Witnesses:

C. E. Pm'ronano, A. D. Lose. 

